[Myocardial infarction and heterozygous sickle cell anemia. Apropos of 2 cases]

Thromboses are a classical complication of sickle cell disease in the severe homozygous form. In the heterozygous individual, although the risk of severe thromobotic episodes is small, it must nevertheless be recognised. The authors report two cases of myocardial infarction in patients whose coronary arteries were relatively free from atherosclerosis; they were young men, with the heterozygous form of sickle cell disease AS. The part played by inheritance, the factors favouring vascular occlusion, and the possibility of preventing such episodes are all discussed.